by Laura Scott
“Okay, okay.” Was she overreacting? Maybe. “If you don’t mind, I’ll take a look at the wound after lunch. Just in case.” She turned and walked back up to the house, belatedly realizing that she’d left the rest of the groceries in the car. Never before had a man sent her from exasperated to happy within five minutes. Andrew had mostly made her sad. She shrugged and brought in another bag of groceries.
“Would you like some help?” Derek asked once he’d dried himself off with a towel.
“I’m fine,” she said, knowing that Derek would only get in the way since he didn’t know where everything went anyway. “I bought cold cuts and Italian bread to make sandwiches for lunch.”
“Sounds good.” Derek stood near the door, and the minute she’d emptied the last grocery bag, he took her hand. “Come on, I want to show you something.”
Far too conscious of his hand wrapped around hers, she curiously followed him outside to the set of patio doors leading into the other side of the townhouse. And when she walked in, she gasped in surprise. All of the drywall had been taken down off the walls of the living room and kitchen area, while the floor had been swept clean.
“You did all this today?” she asked in awe.
He nodded. “I still need to do the ceiling, but taking old drywall down is a lot easier than putting new stuff up. Although I should be able to get to that in a couple of days.”
“I...don’t know what to say,” she murmured, her cheeks pink with gratitude. All this time, she’d feared that Derek and Lexi were leaving, when in fact, he’d been working as a show of good faith in keeping up his end of the bargain.
And in that moment, she grimly realized that, despite her best efforts, she’d grown far too emotionally attached to Derek and Lexi.
A path that would surely lead to heartbreak.
Chapter Seven
As Julie fixed lunch, she couldn’t help noticing how Derek was moving slowly and carefully again as he crossed the patio and sat down at the table. No doubt the physical work he’d done earlier, tearing down most of her old drywall, had been too much.
Granted, she very much appreciated the work he’d done, but at the same time, she didn’t want him to hurt himself again, either.
She brought out the sandwiches and chips she’d picked up at the store and then went back inside for soft drinks. She chose iced tea for herself and Derek, and a tall glass of ice-cold milk for Lexi.
Both Derek and Lexi sat with their hands together, as if waiting for her to pray. Once she’d taken her seat, she bowed her head and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Dear Lord, we thank You for the food You’ve provided for us today, and we ask for Your wisdom in guiding us on the path You want us to take, especially Derek, who seems intent on working too hard when he’s still in pain. We ask this in the name of Christ the Lord. Amen.”
She heard a choked laugh as she opened her eyes to find Derek fighting a smile. She pinned him with a stern look. “I’m not kidding,” she muttered. “You need to listen to what your body is telling you.”
“I know, but I’m fine.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that before,” she said wryly. “You always say that, no matter how much pain you’re in. And don’t think I’ve forgotten about your dressing, because I haven’t. As soon as we’re finished here, I’m going to take a look at your catheter site.”
“Yes, Nurse Julie,” he responded lightly.
She smiled in spite of herself and glanced at Lexi, who was eating her sandwich with gusto. Julie was glad Lexi didn’t seem to be a picky eater, the way Amelia had been. Finding foods that Amelia would eat, even before she’d started chemotherapy, had been a challenge. When the chemo had started, Amelia had lost several pounds, until the child was nothing but skin and bones.
“Julie, why are you sad?” Lexi asked.
She pulled her mind away from the painful memories. “I was thinking about my niece, Amelia,” she said honestly. “Sometimes you remind me of her.”
Lexi’s blue eyes, mirror images of her father’s, regarded her steadily. “And that makes you sad?”
“More happy than sad,” she corrected. “So tell me how you enjoyed swimming in the lake. Did the seaweed bother you?”
Lexi wrinkled her nose. “A little, but my daddy held me up and kept me away from the weeds.”
“That’s great, Lexi,” Julie said with a smile. “And I’m sure you’ll get used to the seaweed.”
Derek raised a brow, and she belatedly realized she’d done it again, assuming they’d be staying longer than a few days. What in the world was wrong with her? She needed to think of Derek as a patient, not as a single father. Or a handsome man.
As soon as they were finished with lunch, she jumped up and began carrying things inside. Derek and Lexi helped, so it didn’t take long to put everything away. When they were finished, Lexi went back outside to her drawing. She stopped Derek from following his daughter, gesturing to the kitchen table.
“Sit down,” she said to Derek in her best don’t-mess-with-me tone. “I want to clean that wound.”
He looked as if he might argue but then gingerly lowered himself onto one of the kitchen chairs as she went into the bathroom to get her first aid kit. When she returned, she noticed Derek was watching his daughter, who was engrossed in her drawing.
“She’s quite the artist,” she murmured as she opened the kit and set out the supplies.
“I know, and she can draw for hours if I let her,” Derek agreed.
She filled a bowl with hot water and then brought over the bowl, a clean washcloth, and some mild soap. “At least it’s better than playing video games.”
“Trust me, she does that, too.” Derek slid his arm out of his T-shirt and held his elbow up so she could look at the small puncture site.
“This might hurt a bit,” she warned as she peeled the clear, transparent, waterproof dressing off. She was surprised to see that the skin beneath was nice and dry. The puncture site was small and seemed relatively clean.
“How bad does it look?” Derek asked.
“Not as bad as I expected,” she grudgingly admitted. She did her best to focus her attention on the task at hand and not the masculine scent of Derek’s skin. After dipping the washcloth in the hot water, she gently cleaned the wound. When she glanced up at Derek, she was disconcerted to find his face was mere inches from hers.
She stared into his eyes for a long moment before taking a step back. She glanced around for the antibiotic ointment, a bit flustered by his nearness. “I’ll, um, just use a bit of this and cover it with gauze for now,” she said, knowing she was babbling but unable to make herself stop. “We’ll save those waterproof dressings for swimming and showering, okay?”
“Sounds good,” he murmured.
Stop talking, she told herself as she taped the two-by-two square gauze over the small puncture site. She straightened, trying to hide shaking fingers. “All finished,” she said in a breathless tone.
“Thanks, Julie,” he said as he put his arm back through the sleeve of his T-shirt.
She gave a terse nod and leaned forward to gather up her supplies at the same instant Derek chose to stand, the movement causing them to bump into each other.
When Derek’s hands lightly grasped her waist to steady her, her breath lodged in her throat, and her heart rate kicked into triple digits.
Overwhelmed by his nearness, she looked up at him at the same time he tipped his head down toward hers. His blue eyes were dark and intent, and when he lowered his mouth to hers, she didn’t move. Didn’t blink.
There was nothing she wanted more than Derek’s kiss.
His mouth settled over hers, and she gently parted her lips, reveling in his taste, leaning against him when her knees went weak.
“Daddy?” Lexi’s voice crashed the moment.
Derek pulled away so quickly she lost her balance and had to grab on to the kitchen table for support as Derek hastened to put distance between them. “What’s up, baby-doll?”
he asked in a hoarse tone. She couldn’t help being glad that he’d obviously been as affected as she was by their kiss.
“Do you want to see my drawing?” Lexi asked.
“Of course I do,” he said, moving forward to escape through the patio doors. The spring door slid shut with a bang behind him.
Julie stayed where she was for several long moments, trying to rein in her rioting emotions.
Why had he kissed her? Why had she kissed him back? Well, she knew why she’d kissed him back, because really, what sane woman wouldn’t? Derek was tall, dark and handsome, not to mention gentle and kind.
But she truly had no idea why he’d kissed her in the first place. Andrew had found her attractive at first but then had lost patience with her. He’d ended up getting back together with his old girlfriend. She’d be better off staying far away from Derek. But as she cleaned up the first aid supplies and dumped out the water in the sink, she couldn’t stop wondering if or when Derek might kiss her again.
___________
Derek mentally berated himself for being an idiot as he peered down at Lexi’s drawing. Why had he kissed Julie like that? She was a beautiful, kind, Christian woman who had gone out of her way to help him and Lexi. And how had he thanked her? By giving in to the need to kiss her.
He’d be lucky if she didn’t immediately demand they leave, after the stunt he’d pulled.
He forced himself to concentrate on Lexi’s drawing. She’d chosen to do a picture of Julie’s townhouse this time, rather than the lake, and he had to admit, his daughter had an eye for detail. She’d even included Julie’s small vegetable garden.
“It’s beautiful, Lexi,” he said honestly. “Just like you.”
“Will Julie like it?”
“Of course she will.” He shouldn’t have been surprised by Lexi’s desire to make Julie happy, but he was. Since they’d left St. Louis, Lexi hadn’t said a word about her mother’s death or her grandparents. It was as if his daughter had pushed away all the bad memories of the past. He only hoped they wouldn’t come out to haunt her when she least expected it.
“I’ll give to Julie,” Lexi said, picking up the drawing and heading toward the patio doors. When Lexi disappeared inside, he scrubbed his hands over his face.
Lexi hadn’t mentioned seeing the two of them kissing, but then again, Lexi didn’t have much use for conversation in general. He sincerely hoped his daughter hadn’t noticed. The last thing he wanted to do was to hurt Lexi in any way. He took a deep breath and winced when his ribs protested.
The very idea that Julie might ask them to leave made him feel like a jerk. And for the first time in years, he offered up a silent prayer. Please, Lord, give me the strength to do what is right for Julie and for Lexi.
Surprisingly, he felt calmer after the prayer. Was it possible God was still listening to him? A soldier who’d sinned more times than he could count? Once, he’d believed in God’s willingness to forgive, but he wasn’t so sure that killing Afghani soldiers was something that God would condone. Not to mention the fact that he and Claire had created Lexi outside of the sanctity of marriage. So many sins. Too many sins.
But he could believe that Julie had God’s protection, so maybe, just maybe, his prayer wouldn’t fall on deaf ears.
Somehow, he had to find a way to keep his guard up around Julie. They could be friends, but nothing more. He headed toward the townhouse he was sharing with Lexi and picked up the crowbar again.
The best thing he could do for Julie was to repay her kindness—not by kissing the living daylights out of her, but by helping to finish up her construction project. So he climbed the small stepladder and ignored the stab of pain rippling across his chest as he began chipping away at the old drywall on the ceiling.
Julie deserved better than a jobless man on the run with his daughter, and the sooner he remembered that fact, the better.
___________
Derek worked on the task of bringing down the rest of the drywall covering the ceiling until he was in so much pain he couldn’t lift his arms anymore. He climbed down from the stepladder and propped the crowbar against one of the two-by-four studs, pressing a hand to his aching ribs. Assailed by a sudden wave of dizziness, he sank down to the floor and concentrated on not passing out cold.
He closed his eyes and tipped his head back against the two-by-four studs, taking one slow breath followed by another, willing the dizziness to recede. He knew very well he needed to pull himself together before Julie happened to show up to find him like this. She’d be disappointed again, maybe even angry enough to yell at him, rightfully so, although in a way, this was all her fault.
The hard work and subsequent pain had pushed thoughts of kissing her again right out of his mind.
A reluctant smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Okay, maybe it was best not to mention that fact if she came looking for him.
After a few minutes, the room stopped spinning, and he opened his eyes, longing for a drink of ice-cold water or the sun tea Julie loved. But getting something to drink would require him to move, so he decided to stay right where he was for a little longer.
The throbbing of his ribs didn’t ease much, telling him he’d overdone it big-time. But as he stared up at the ceiling, he was satisfied to realize he’d managed to get more than a quarter of the ceiling drywall down. Not too bad for a man who’d been in a car crash recently.
He estimated that he would have the rest of the drywall down by the Fourth of July, which would be perfect timing. He didn’t dare stay in Hope County too long, even though it felt good to be doing something constructive rather than driving aimlessly, looking for a place that might be hiring.
He stared at the half-demolished kitchen and living room area and considered staying long enough to get the entire job finished. But as soon as the thought formed, he dismissed it.
For one thing, Julie might not have the money to purchase the necessary supplies. Drywall, cabinets, counters, and sinks had a way of adding up to a pretty penny. There were about five sheets of drywall propped in one corner, but that wouldn’t be nearly enough to finish the open-concept room.
No, best that he complete as much of the work as possible before hitting the road with Lexi.
“Derek?”
Julie’s voice came from outside, not from the patio but from the front yard.
“Coming,” he called, forcing himself to move. Getting back on his feet was no easy task, and by the time he managed the feat, tiny beads of sweat were rolling down his temples.
For a long moment, he stood bracing himself against the wall, trying to gather the strength he’d need to face Julie without letting on how much pain he was in. She’d take it personally even though it was his own stupid fault for over-exerting himself.
“Derek? Come on, I want you to meet my brother, Zack,” Julie called again, a note of impatience lacing her tone.
“I’m coming,” he assured her. He used the hem of his T-shirt to swipe away the sweat and stepped carefully over the drywall debris littering the floor as he made his way across the room. He pasted a broad smile on his face in an attempt to hide his discomfort as he opened the front door.
“There you are,” Julie exclaimed. She stood next to a tall man with medium-brown hair. “Derek, this is my brother, Zack Crain. Zack, this is Derek Ryerson, Lexi’s father.”
His greeting died in his throat when he stared in horror at the police car parked at the end of Julie’s driveway. It took another second or two for his brain to register that Zack was dressed in uniform blue, complete with a shiny badge pinned to his chest and a gun nestled at his waist.
Why on earth hadn’t Julie mentioned her brother was a cop?
Chapter Eight
Derek forced himself to approach Julie and her brother, ignoring the tight knot of anxiety twisting his gut. “Nice to meet you, Zack,” he said, reluctantly holding out his hand. “Sorry about the dust and sweat.”
Zack’s gaze narrowed a bit, but he returned the gr
eeting. “No problem. Good to meet you, too.” The handshake was hard and brief.
Derek let his hand drop to his side and wondered how long it would take for Julie’s brother to run a background check on him. Probably not long. Would he even wait to leave or run the check right now in his squad car?
His pulse jumped erratically, and he knew he should take Lexi and leave right away. But how? A rental car? Maybe he could afford a rental, at least until he got to a bus station. And then what?
Where would he go? What would he and Lexi do?
“Derek, are you all right?” Julie asked, pulling him from his panicked thoughts.
“Um, yeah. Sorry. What did you say?”
“I was telling Zack about the work you’ve been doing on the townhouse,” she said. A hint of concern shadowed her eyes.
“Right. Actually, I just pulled more drywall off the ceiling, and it’s a bit of a mess. Why don’t you wait here while I clean things up?” He couldn’t deny he was desperate to get away. Maybe he could convince Julie’s brother that he was harmless. And then maybe, just maybe, her brother the cop wouldn’t run a background check only to find Claire’s parents had filed for custody.
But the shred of hope wasn’t reassuring. Not when he knew that, if the situation were reversed, he’d be doing a background check on a stranger who was sharing a townhouse with his sister.
He turned and walked back inside, letting the screen door slam shut behind him, trying to act natural as he began sweeping up the debris littering the floor. When Julie, Zack, and Lexi came inside, he stopped and leaned on the broom, trying to look casual when in fact he feared his legs might buckle beneath him. “What do you think?” he asked, striving for a normal tone.
“Wow, looks great,” Julie said in awe. Then she frowned. “Your ribs must be killing you. It can’t be easy working on the ceiling.”
He shrugged. “The results are worth it.”
Zack stared at him, his gaze faintly accusatory. “How long are you planning to stay?”